Lina Al-Attiyah

Saudi Arabian solar energy pioneer who transformed the Kingdom's renewable energy sector

Lina Al-Attiyah (b. 1978) is a groundbreaking Saudi engineer whose work in solar energy has positioned Saudi Arabia as a global renewable energy leader. As CEO of Solar Future Solutions, she developed the world's first desert-optimized photovoltaic systems, increasing energy capture by 22% in harsh environments.

Her 2005 invention of the 'Dune Array' technology enabled large-scale solar farms in sand-rich regions, leading to the $5 billion Al-Jamal Solar Plant - the Middle East's largest solar project. Al-Attiyah's 2018 study in Renewable Energy journal revolutionized thermal storage systems for solar plants.

She founded the Saudi Solar Academy in 2012, training 1,500 engineers annually. Her advocacy led to the 2023 National Solar Policy requiring 50% renewable energy by 2030. Al-Attiyah's TED Talk "Sunrise Over the Desert" has been translated into 15 languages.